MANILA, Philippines — Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III remained on top of a survey of presidential candidates made by a public relations firm early this month but his lead over his rivals has been cut down.

The survey, conducted by a group named The Issues and Advocacy Center from Dec. 2 to 6, showed Sen. Manuel Villar catching up with Aquino, former President Joseph Estrada regaining his footing, and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Senator Richard Gordon making big strides since the group’s last survey in October.

The survey, which was distributed to the press by Lakas spokesperson and Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay, showed Aquino with 31 percent of the respondents, while Villar got 24 percent. Estrada was third with a 19 percent share while Teodoro breached the double digit mark for the first time with a 10 percent share. Gordon’s ratings climbed from virtually nil to 8 percent in the survey.

The Center’s director Ed Malay said the survey involved 1,200 respondents and held a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent. He said it was the first survey conducted since all candidates formalized their respective bids.

The respondents were asked “Who would you vote for from among the list of 9 presidential aspirants (Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Erap Estrada, Gibo Teodoro, Dick Gordon, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, JC de los Reyes, Jamby Madrigal and Nicky Perlas) if elections were to be held today?”

The Center describes itself in its Internet site as publicity consultants with a mission to "create winning formulas that drive our political media campaigns to achieve the desired results and which are rooted on the highest moral and ethical standards in the pursuit of accurate, truthful and persuasive publicity campaigns."